<em>Mental health, personality and quality of life factors affecting mTBI recovery in an Australian cohort.</em> — The Association Specialists
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Mental health, personality and quality of life factors affecting mTBI recovery in an Australian cohort. (22215)

Amanda Jefferson 1 2 3 , Sarah Hellewell 1 2 , Jemma Keeves 1 2 4 , Rachel Singer 1 2 , Jacinta Thorne 1 2 5 , Melinda Fitzgerald 1 2
  1. Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA, Australia
  2. Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Perth, WA, Australia
  3. Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
  4. School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  5. School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia

Background

17,700 Australians present to hospital annually with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). 10-50% of people with mTBI experience poor recovery and deal with the sequelae of brain injury for months or years. Our objective was to gain insight into psychosocial factors of Australians with mTBI and identify those experiencing persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS), so that strategies can be employed to improve their recovery.

Methods

An online retrospective survey was conducted, inviting Australian residents aged 18-65 who experienced mTBI within the preceding 18 months. Results were analysed using Chi-squared tests or ANOVA using PPCS as the outcome variable. Logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between mental health (MH), personality traits (using the Big Five Inventory-10) and quality of life (QoL) and the presence of PPCS at 18m.            

Results

Of 201 participants (47.6%F), 27(13.4%) had PPCS at 18m, with headache and nausea (physical disturbances), the most common complaints. Participants were 3x more likely to experience PPCS if they had a MH diagnosis pre-injury (p=0.048), and 5x more likely to remain symptomatic with a MH diagnosis post-injury (p=0.018). Of the five personality traits, neuroticism and extraversion were associated with anxiety, depression and/or panic attacks (p<0.025) and QoL was lower in the group with PPCS (p=0.002).

Conclusion

These findings suggest the presence of a MH disorder and scoring high in the neuroticism or low in the extraversion personality domains, may predispose people to poorer recovery. Incorporating these measures into clinical practice may allow early identification and personalised intervention to aid recovery.